Vol. 418 No. 4
114 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education if he will outline (a) the number of primary schools in County Limerick that do not have remedial teachers and (b) the number of pupils without this facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
116 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Education if he will outline the number of primary schools in County Limerick which have the benefit of remedial teachers and the total number of pupils involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 116 together.
Of the 149 ordinary national schools in County Limerick, 76 have the services of a remedial teacher either on a full-time or shared basis. This includes six schools allocated the services of a remedial teacher in the current school year as part of a national distribution of 80 such posts under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. This leaves 73 schools which do not have a remedial teaching service at present.
It should of course be recognised that not all schools require, or indeed seek, the services of a remedial teacher. I should also point out that remedial education at primary level is a matter in the first instance for the pupil's own class teachers. The number of pupils who will require special assistance from remedial teachers will vary from time to time and accordingly be readily quantified.
